Jeddah: Twenty Umrah pilgrims died and 29 were injured in Saudi Arabia on Monday, in a fire that broke out after a bus hit a bridge and overturned.

The victims were on their way to Makkah to perform Umrah.

The accident is said to have occurred due to a brake failure in the bus while on the road connecting the Asir Province and Abha city.

Teams of the Saudi Civil Defence and Red Crescent Authority visited the accident site for rescue operations.

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Dubai (Press Release): Sahebaan Welfare Trust (SWT) Mangalore launched its membership induction drive recently at the premises of Northern Insurance Company on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The launching ceremony happened in the presence of trustees and members of the trust in UAE, including Nasir Syed, Mateen Ahmed Chilmi, Yunus Sheikh, Nisar Khan, Ajmal Syed, and Althaf Khalife.

As part of the induction drive, SWT unveiled its brochure, signaling the expansion of its membership outreach not only in India but also in the UAE and other countries.

Established in December 2023, SWT is dedicated to addressing the welfare needs of the Sahebaan community, predominantly Urdu-speaking individuals hailing from the DK and Udupi districts. Moreover, SWT aims to bridge the gap in representation for returning Sahebaan NRIs in India.

Embodying principles of peace and harmony, SWT adheres to a stringent group membership policy while respecting the laws of the respective countries.

During the ceremony, Syed Siraj Ahmed, General Secretary of SWT, provided insights into the organization's objectives, past achievements, and forthcoming plans. These include a series of bi-monthly welfare talks covering education, health, taxation, NRI investments in India, and active participation in governmental initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and traffic awareness campaigns, alongside fostering interfaith harmony.

Afroz Assadi, President of SWT, extended a warm welcome to all attendees, expressing gratitude for their presence and spoke on the importance of continued support and cooperation to realize the objectives set forth by SWT. The constructive and beneficial role of SWT Ladies Wing was noted and appreciated during the meeting.

Faizaan Khatib, Lead of the SWT Youth Wing was also present.